Locking device for removable heels



7 y 1938- G. H. GILLIS 2,125,158

LOCKING DEVICE FOR REMOVABLE HEELS Filed larch 20. 1937 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE FOR REMOVABLE HEELS I George H. Gillis, Fitchburg, Mass. Application March 20, 1987, Serial No. 132,011

3 Claims. (CI. 36-36) This invention relates to a detachable heel and improved securing means for maintaining the heel in proper position. A removable rubber heel is described and illustrated in my Patent No.

1,966,293, granted July 10, 1934. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for more securely maintaining the heel in place, such means being adapted to permit the removal of the heel when'desired. As indicated in the said patent, the heel is so formed as to be removable from its base by sliding forward in its own plane. To retain the heel in position, an obstructing element is provided to engage the heel at or near its forward end or breast and on its front-to-rear 35 median line. A locking element in such position is not made ineffective by distortion of marginal portions of the heel such as may result when the side of the heel is strongly rubbed against or caught on some other object when in use.

Various embodiments of the invention, as hereinafter described, are illustrated on the drawing of which I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heel portion of a shoe, showing an embodiment of the in- 25.vention.

Figure2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing another modified form of the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another modified form of the invention, the parts being shown in different positions.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, I provide a heel iii, preferably of rubber, having an upper portion I 2 the side and rear edges of which are offset inwardly from the side and rear edges of the heel and are undercut as at it so as to provide a dovetail interlock with a U-shaped heel seat i 6 which, as indicated in Figure 2, is preferably fastened permanently to the shoe as by nails 20 or other suitable fastening elements. The heel seat I6 is preferably assembled on the last with the sole 22 and upper 24 of the shoe. The inner edge of the heel seat It, overlapping the undercut edge i i of the heel, prevents removal movement of the heel from the heel seat in every direction except forwardly in the plane of the heel. The structure of the heel and heel seat may be, and preferably is, substantially identical with the heel and heel seat illustrated in my said Patent No. 1,966,293.

In order to retain the heel in position while in use, it is necessary to prevent forward movement thereof in its own plane. For this purpose, I provide a locking element which, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, may be-in the form of a pin 30 having a head 22. As shown, the pin 20 pro- 5 iects through a hole in the sole 22 so that the head 32 is flush with the inner face of the sole. The hole through which the pin projects is so located that the pin bears laterally against the breast of the heel 30', preferably at or near the 10 mid-point of the breast. In order to remove the heel i0, it is only necessary to push the pin 22 back into the shoe so as to leave the heel free to be pushed forward out of engagement with the heel seat I6. Within the shoe, I preferably pro- 1| vide a heel pad 33 which extends from the rear end of the sole a sufllcient distance forward to overlie and cover the head 32 of the pin 30, the forward edge of the peel pad being near the head of the pin so that it is necessary to turn back 20 only a small portion of the pad, as indicated in Figure 2, to expose the pin head 22 for the removal of the pin. Thus, while the shoe is in use, the pin is held in position where it serves to prevent any movement of the heel in a forward (11- 25 rection.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention, this modification consisting of a screw 36 which is driven through the sole 22 and down into the heel I0 so that the head 38 of the screw 30 is flush with the inner face of the sole. In order to increase the effectiveness of the screw 38 as a locking member to prevent forward movement of the heel i0, I may provide a washer 40 of suitable material such as leather, fiber, or the 35 like, this washer being preferably set into the upper face of the heel when the heel is molded. The washer is preferably located near the midpoint of the breast of the heel. A heel pad 32 may be provided to overlie the screw head 38 40 smoothly. In order to remove-the heel for replacement, it is only necessary to turn back the forward end of the heel pad, and then to unscrew the screw 36 with a suitable tool. The heel may then be slid forwardly in its own plane to remove 45 it from the heel seat i 6.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figure 4 wherein is illustrated a screw 44 which is driven up through the bottom of the heel so that its point penetrates partly through the sole 5 22. A metal washer 46 may be embodied in the heel if desired, through which washer the screw 44 may project so as to act as an effective means of holding the heel against the bottom of the sole as well as to prevent forward movement of 55 the heel relative to the heel seat. The screw 44 is preferably located near the mid-point of the breast of the heel so that it is "as far removed as possible from'the side and rear edges of the heel which are liable to be distorted at times when the heel is in use.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a heel having a fastening element 50 molded into the breast portion thereof near the middle and projecting from the breast. As shown, the element 50 is an L-shaped metal piece, one arm being embedded in the heel itself, and the other arm projecting upwardly in front of the breast of the heel so as to enter a notch or recess 52 in the lower face of the sole 22. In order to remove the heel, the mid-portion thereof at the breast must be sprung away from the sole by the use of a suitable tool until the locking element 5|! clears the recess 52. heel is then removed as indicated in Figure 6.

It is evident that various modifications and changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit or scopethereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, a heel base fastened to the shoe, a heel removably mounted on the base, said heel and base having interengaging portions pre-,

venting removal movement of said heel in every direction except forwardly in its own plane, and

a removable obstructing element normally preventing forward movement of said heel, said element comprising a pin projecting through the sole of the shoe at the breast of the heel and bearing laterally against said breast.

2. In a shoe, a sole, a heel base secured to the heel portion of said sole, a rubber heel removably mounted on said base, said heel and base having interengaging portions preventing removal movement of said heel in every direction except forwardly in its own plane, locking means comprising a headed pin projecting through said sole from within the shoe and bearing laterally against the breast of the heel near the midpoint thereof, said element having its head flush with the inner face of the sole, and a heel pad overlying the head of said element.

3. In a shoe, a sole having a recess in the shank portion thereof, a heel base fastened to the heel portion of said sole, a heel removably mounted on said base, said heel and base having interengaging portions preventing removal movement of said heel except forwardly in its own plane, and means normally preventing forward movement of said heel, said means comprising an element having a portion embedded in the midbreast portion of the heel so as to project from the breast thereof and an upstanding portion 

